As an active member of the UN and global community, Trinidad and Tobago demonstrated resilience and commitment to advancing sustainable development in 2024, in line with national priorities and
the new commitments expressed in the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). 

UN system agencies were privileged to join these efforts and support numerous initiatives across a
broad range of sectors. Supporting economic transformation and digital transition, the UN in Trinidad and Tobago supported the launch of the first National E-Commerce Strategy which paves the way for a more competitive digital economy. 

The UN also engaged with the Government, private investors and international partners in various efforts to support the national digitalization agenda and diversification of the economy, as well as expansion of clean energy and green transition goals. 

A big part of the UN in Trinidad and Tobago's work focused on social inclusion, health and human rights. It was notable that 2024 saw the first cohort of Venezuelan refugee children enrolled in public schools, marking a historic step toward inclusive education. Efforts to prevent and address human trafficking led to Trinidad and Tobago’s improved ranking in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, reflecting strengthened institutional capacity. Most importantly, the launch of the National Strategic Action Plan on GBV and Sexual Violence and preparation of the National Action Plan on
Women Peace and Security provided a robust framework for long-term violence prevention and response.

In the area of environmental and climate resilience, the Government outlined its willingness to raise the
ambition of carbon reduction targets and advanced the preparation of a just energy transition plan ahead of COP30 in 2025. The Disaster Risk Information Management System (DRIMS) was launched, improving national preparedness for environmental hazards. The UN supported global and regional cooperation by hosting high-level visits as well regional and national strategic dialogues, including the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee and the Joint National Steering Committee for implementation of the United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF).

The challenges of 2024 highlight the urgency of collective action in Trinidad and Tobago to accelerate progress. Moving forward, the UN system in Trinidad and Tobago is ready to engage with the Government, civil society and international partners on a range of remaining priorities.

In 2024, 34 funding partners provided a combined US $15 million to advance sustainable
development in Trinidad and Tobago. Four of these supplied half of this total (51 percent): UNDP
(US $3.11 million), UNHCR (US $1.76 million), the European Union (US $1.75 million) and the United
States of America (US $1.39 million). UN entities contributed 52 percent of all inflows (US $7.8 million), led by UNDP and UNHCR, with contributions by ECLAC, FAO, ILO, IOM, ITU, PAHO/ WHO, UNESCO, UNEP, UNICEF, UNFPA, OHCHR, UN Women and WFP. Bilateral donors accounted for 29 percent (US $4.37 million), with the European Union (40 percent of bilateral funds) and the United States of America (32 percent of bilateral funds) at the forefront. The governments of Canada (US $0.66 million), India (US $0.27 million), Germany (US $0.16 million), Japan (US $0.11 million) and Australia (US $0.03 million) rounded out the bilateral group. The vertical fund, Global Environment Facility (GEF), supplied 8.8 percent (US $1.33 million), targeting increasing capacities to address climate change adaptation and mitigation. UN inter-agency pooled funds (Migration MPTF, Green Climate Fund, International Programme for the Development of Communication and the Spotlight Initiative) contributed another US $1.13 million (7.5 percent). Finally, domestic and regional partners—the Government of Trinidad and Tobago along with regional bodies such as the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, CARICOM Implementing Agency for Crime and Security, the Caribbean Heritage Emergency Network and the Caribbean Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives—together supplied the remaining 3 percent, underpinning implementation of the national Country Implementation Plan.